Computer Architecture Questions
Primary memory, also known as main memory or internal memory, refers to the memory that is directly accessible by the CPU. It is volatile in nature, meaning that its contents are lost when the power is turned off. Primary memory is used to store data and instructions that are currently being processed by the CPU. It is faster and more expensive compared to secondary memory.
Secondary memory, on the other hand, is non-volatile and is used for long-term storage of data and programs. It is not directly accessible by the CPU and requires input/output operations to transfer data between secondary memory and primary memory. Secondary memory devices include hard disk drives, solid-state drives, optical drives, and magnetic tapes. It is slower and less expensive compared to primary memory, but it has a larger storage capacity.